While most rumors indicate that Apple will unveil the next iPhone in October, an analyst today said the highly anticipated smartphone could make its debut a month earlier.
"Looking forward to an exciting September from Apple," analyst Brian White with Topeka Capital Markets, wrote in a note to clients Monday following a round of meeting with his contacts in Taipei. "Regarding the widely anticipated iPhone 5, we believe a September launch is more likely than October."
Even better — the Cupertino tech giant will launch its sixth-generation iPhone alongside the much talked-about "iPad mini," White predicted. Recent rumors indicate that the scaled-down iPad will measure in at 7 inches, and be priced competitively at around $200 to $250.
On the next-gen iPhone front, White said he "gathered more data points" supporting his earlier prediction that the coveted device will have a unibody frame, which he believes will be manufactured by Hon Hai Precision, and another company. However, he put into question rumors that the body of the next iPhone will made of a super-tough alloy called Liquidmetal.
"Our contact was skeptical around the plethora of news stories highlighting Liquidmetal Technologies' potential involvement in the iPhone 5," White wrote.
Meanwhile, some have speculated that Apple could unveil the next iPhone as early as next week at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. But don't get your hopes up. Apple didn't unveil the iPhone 4S until last October, and most rumors claim the tech giant is planning to keep a similar timeframe for the launch of its next iPhone.
The next-gen iPhone is largely expected to sport a larger, 4-inch screen. Other persistent rumors indicate that the phone will be about 20 percent thinner than its predecessor, with a metal backside, and smaller dock connector.
As for what Apple has up its sleeve for WWDC, rumors point to a revamped iCloud, Facebook integration with iOS 6, and a 3D mapping solution, among other things. PCMag will be at WWDC, which kicks off June 11, so stay tuned for all the details.
For more, see PCMag's full review of the iPhone 4S and the slideshow below.